Page 89 of The Biting Bargain

The rest scatter as if the gates of hell have opened right before their eyes.

The world turns into an explosive mixture of swirling colors and acrid stench of fear. My werewolf shreds my suit, including the sash, with fur and claws and everything, and an unstoppable lust for murder is taking over. With one leap, I fly over the poker table, and Stellan has absolutely no time to react, before I seize him and fling him across the hall.

He cries out when he crashes into the decorative ice sculpture, as if it was the last thing he expected to happen tonight. And I bet that's true.

No one expected that I, the hopeful aspirant just re-admitted into the illustrious midst of vampire society, would instantly throw my triumph out the window.

And with a running start.

I wheel around.

Polly has jumped up. Her little face flushed with surprise.

Before anyone can react further or call security, I grab my little dove, throw her over my shoulder, and run out of the hall.

ChapterForty-Two

Polly

Shouldyou ever be grabbed by a werewolf and carried off in a wild flight through the night, I can only recommend you grab onto its fur, hold on for dear life and pray you won't fall off.

The full moon casts milky light on isolated trees and houses, but I pay less attention to our surroundings than to my racing heart and the roaring adrenaline in my veins.

What the hell just happened?

Why did he expose himself to the entire vampire community?

Why did he shift?

Spill his secret?

In front of everyone?

Surely not just to save me?

I don't know how much time has passed when Vincent finally slows down and stops. I slide off his shoulders. With almost embarrassing caution, he sets me on the ground and immediately lets go of my waist.

"Turn around," he growls, and shellshocked as I am, I obey. Dully I realize that we are standing in the middle of a meadow, somewhere in the countryside. The grass stands tall, flowers nod their heads in the night breeze. Farther away, I make out the outlines of Vincent's estate looming against the night sky.

He has brought me to safety.

My knees tremble and my heart pounds in my throat. I wince as he shifts behind me with that characteristic crunching sound.

"Why did you do that?" I ask without turning around.

I expect one of his usual snarky retorts. "What are you talking about?" or "None of your business."

But none of that comes. Instead, all the little hairs on my body stand up as I feel him step behind me, like an oversized wall of heat. Gently, he touches me on the shoulder and I follow as if in a dream, slowly turning to face him.

"I'm sorry, my dove."

He looks down at me with dark shining eyes, his raven hair standing wildly around his head. My body realizes with angry delight that his clothes didn't survive the shifting. His big hands left and right on my shoulders are warm and reassuring.

I swallow and force myself to glare at him.

"What are you sorry for? For ruining your reputation? For throwing everything you've worked for out the window?" My voice is thick and heavy.

He shakes his head.

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